Is it mandatory to vaccuum out debris, ie: poop and rotting food particles and such?

Before you answer that, how would it be possible if, and I've seen aquariums with little to no sand visible. For example, a "grass" covered bottom, or plants covered bottom.

How does one vaccuum such said aquarium? OR don't you vaccuum, but I have always been told that vaccuuming was a nessecity as well as water changes?

Now being said, my next tank hopefully if all goes well, will have a large sandy area, so vaccuuming will be easy...

Newby.....

You should try to vacuum the bottom on occasion, even if you have groundcover. You should be able to gently vacuum the plants and pull the debris out. Anything you leave there to rot will become ammonia and put stress on the equilibrium of your tank.